A report about a drunk driving arrest recently caught the attention of our Ontario DUI criminal defense attorneys. According to the Orange County Register, a Long Beach police officer pleaded not guilty Oct. 19 to two charges of driving under the influence. Eddie Sanchez, 30, was arrested in Orange County in May after other drivers noticed his erratic driving and failure to move his car after a traffic light turned green. He faces a DUI charge with a sentence enhancement for having a BAC of .15 or more. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to six months in jail. The Long Beach Police Department declined to comment on any professional consequences for Sanchez, but noted that officers are held to a higher standard of conduct.
Sanchez was arrested in Garden Grove on May 24 of this year. According to the article, which is based on a release from the Orange County District Attorney's office, Sanchez was drinking at a bar in Long Beach at around 4:30 p.m. when he decided to visit a friend in Stanton. During the journey, other drivers saw Sanchez's car weave in and out of traffic and stop at green lights. He was taken off the road after he failed to start moving after a light turned green. As several drivers behind him honked, the driver of the next car got out of his vehicle, walked to Sanchez's car and turned off that car's engine. Garden Grove police came in response to a 911 call and observed that Sanchez had slurred speech and a smell of alcohol. A test showed that he had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.16, twice the legal limit. An attorney for Sanchez did not return phone calls seeking a comment.
As Torrance drunk driving criminal defense lawyers, we think it was smart of Sanchez to hire an attorney. A DUI conviction is not good for anyone, but it can be especially bad for people who need a clean criminal record or a clean driving record for their jobs. In addition to the criminal penalties, financial costs and loss of a driver's license that a DUI entails, these people also face discipline at work, or even termination under some circumstances. We also noticed that Sanchez pleaded not guilty even though prosecutors have a high BAC test result. Many people believe they cannot fight a drunk driving case with a BAC above the legal limit, but they absolutely can. Mistakes by police officers, civil rights violations, incorrectly calibrated testing machines and other factors can all throw the evidence into doubt, undermining the case against you.
At Howard Law, P.C., we examine every DUI case we take for flaws and mistakes like these. When we find them, our Rossmoor intoxicated driving criminal defense attorneys can use them to negotiate reduced or dropped charges, or reduced or dropped penalties in some cases. Much of what we can do depends on how early we take the case, which is why we prefer to speak with clients as early as possible in the process. For example, many drivers don't realize that they have the right to fight the loss of their driver's licenses, but they have just 10 days to request a hearing to do so at the DMV. We coordinate your defense at that hearing with your defense against the criminal case in a court of law. In both cases, our goal is to get you the best possible outcome -- retaining the right to drive and a clean criminal record.
If you've been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, don't hesitate to contact Howard Law, P.C. for help. To learn more or set up a free consultation, send us a message through our website or call toll-free at 1-800-872-5925 today.
